Jam Central Station 11.21.09: Toubab Krewe
Posted by Jeff Modzelewski on 11.21.2009
Bringing together traditional African instruments and American rock, Toubab Krewe bridges musical chasms in a unique and exciting way. These up-and-coming musicians have quickly established themselves as an exciting group to watch.
Welcome back for another great week here at Jam Central Station. Sadly, as you read this, I am currently not seeing Phish in Cincinnati as I had hoped. Wires got crossed, plans were unclear, and I'm Phish-less. That makes today a pretty sad day for me.
I'm hoping that someone that reads my column here might be able to give me a hand and cheer me up, however. I've been looking for an invitation to a couple of sites, either what.cd or waffles.fm. If anyone that reads my column is able to hook me up, I'd gladly offer a plug, mention of a band, or some other space here for your help. And you all want me to be happy, right?
In better news, however, it's almost Thanksgiving! I'll be writing next week's column from a turkey-and-pie-induced coma, probably unable to move from a couch. Thank God for Thanksgiving football to give me an excuse to sit on my ass. Anyways, I hope I'll be able to whet your musical appetite this week with a look at the premier traditional African/American rock band, Toubab Krewe.
There are many reasons that musicians dedicate themselves to a career making music. Most musicians attempt, at least in some way, to model their sound after a style that they know at least some people will find popular. The basic genres include rock, rap, hip-hop, pop, blues, reggae, jazz, electronic, and r&b (among others). Even in a community as diverse as the jam band community, few artists will stray far from these general headings. Toubab Krewe, on the other hand, leaves these safe sounds for the most part, instead focusing their work on African rhythms and the music of Mali. They then build their songs using those sounds around rock song structures, but using instruments that you will almost never find in an American rock and roll setting.
When seeing Toubab Krewe live, the first thing that you'll notice are the odd instruments that are in use. The band does use guitars and a drum kit, but those are about the only immediately recognizable instruments on stage. Along with guitars and "typical" drums, the band uses a variety of odd and obscure instruments that are very rarely seen on stage in the U.S. These include the kora (a 21-string harp-lute from West Africa), the soku (a traditional West African single-string fiddle), and the kamelengoni (a smaller, 12-string version of a kora). They also supplement their drum kit (or sometimes replace it altogether) through their use of African percussion instruments such as the djembe and tama.
The band didn't come together with the idea of blending West African sounds into American rock music. Most of the band grew up together in Asheville, North Carolina, a city that's known as a musical and cultural "hub" where a variety of influences meet. As kids, Teal Brown, Drew Heller, and Justin Perkins played together in a variety of bands. While their initial influences were primarily rock and roll music, they were also raised in an environment that celebrated funk, R&B, and traditional Appalachian music. Their work together was always instrumental (a tradition that continues in Toubab Krewe), and always a diverse mixture of sounds.
The three childhood friends met a pair of "kindred spirits" while studying at Warren Wilson College in Asheville. It was there they met Luke Quaranta and David Pransky, the pair that would eventually round out Toubab Krewe. Quaranta became a co-founder of Common Grounds, a traditional African dance and percussion group in Asheville. His understanding and respect for African music immediately drew Teal, Drew, and Justin's attention. Over the next few years, most of the eventual members of Toubab Krewe became involved with Common Grounds, and a strong bond of friendship developed between the five.
The events that really set the wheels for Toubab Krewe's forming in motion, however, were the trips to Africa that the band members took. Between 2001 and 2004, all of the members took at least one trip over to Africa, sometimes for a significant stay. These trips help shape not only the sound that would eventually become Toubab Krewe, but also the band member's point of view on the world and on music as a whole. The members immersed themselves in African culture and life. Some members of the band were also able to study under some of the most well-respected traditional African musicians.
It wasn't until a 2004 trip to Mali that the band was formed, however. The idea for the band came when Heller and Perkins were living in Bamako, immersing themselves in the music and culture of the region. It was in Bamako that Heller and Perkins began writing the music that would turn into the first Toubab Krewe songs. When they returned to the States, they immediately approached their friends with their idea for a band that would mix African instruments and rhythms with American rock music. The goal, as percussionist Luke Quaranta put it, was to find a balance between the traditional African music and the music that the members grew up with, turning it into something new that sounded natural and not forced.
The band quickly sprung from Asheville. They recorded and released their self-titled debut in 2005, and began touring the country. They had enough success to be a part of the 2006 Bonnaroo, which served as a launching point for the band. The band played a Thursday night set that turned into one of the most talked-about shows of the festival. Toubab Krewe went from a relatively obscure and unknown niche band into one of the breakout bands at the biggest festival in the U.S.
Their rise didn't just interest fans in the U.S., however. The individual members had made numerous friends in West Africa, and those friendships led to many trips back to Africa as a band. Their most notable trip was in January 2007, when the band played the Festival in the Desert in Essakane, Mali. The band played a handful of shows in Mali in addition to the festival, building a fan base in the culture that inspired their music.
They returned to the States and continued to tour, playing over 200 shows a year between 2005 and 2007. The years of touring culminated in the recording and release of their second album, Live at The Orange Peel, recorded in Ashville on December 30 and 31 of 2007. Instead of focusing on songs from their self-titled debut, Live at The Orange Peel consisted completely of new, unreleased material.
Despite (or perhaps because of) their eclectic style, Toubab Krewe continued to be a hot act for summer festivals. Between 2007 and 2009, the band played nearly every major festival, including Bonnaroo, High Sierra, 10,000 Lakes, Vegoose, and Rothbury. Typically they've continued to be a second-tier band on most of these large festivals, but they've been much higher up on smaller festivals such as Trinumeral and Camp Barefoot. They've even been able to line up a spot on the 2010 Jam Cruise, which will include artists like STS9 and OHMphrey's (an Umphrey's McGee project).
Toubab means "foreigner" in West African, and Toubab Krewe lives up to that designation in a variety of ways. Despite their profound respect and understanding of African music, they are still foreigners working to garner respect in a different culture. In another way, their uncompromising musical style does make them foreigners in the American music scene. However, just as their African musical brethren have embraced them, they are continuing to gain respect in their home country despite their foreign sound. Toubab Krewe's goal was never to find an elusive "middle ground" between traditional African music and American rock. Instead of compromising either sound, the group focused on blending the two into a style that would be familiar to both cultures. With plans to release a new album in 2010, it's likely that Toubab Krewe will continue bridging the divide between traditional African music and American rock.
Bonnaroo announces dates
The big papa of summer music festivals, Bonnaroo, will be held on June 10-13, 2010, in Manchester, TN. The festival will announce their lineup beginning in January. Anyone who wants to get tickets early will be able to starting November 27 at 12:00 PM EST. The initial round of presales will be available for $209.50 plus fees, and the prices will increase as each "pricing tier" sells out. So, mark your calendars and get your hands on some cash, Bonnaroo's coming!
Gathering of the Vibes announces dates
The 15th annual Gathering of the Vibes will be concluding on Jerry Garcia's birthday this year. This year's installment will run July 29-August 1 at Klein Auditorium in Bridgeport, CT. Advanced tickets go on sale on November 27 for the early bird price of $135.
moe. announces 20th anniversary tour
moe. will be kicking off their 20th anniversary tour with a pair of shows at New York's Roseland Ballroom on January 22 and 23. The band is planning an extensive run after that, although final dates haven't all been released yet. They'll also be releasing information on next year's Snoe.down and their island getaway in the coming weeks.
Gov't Mule plans winter tour
Gov't Mule have posted a handful of winter dates. The band confirmed late January and early February dates that will happen after their Island Exodus shows. No word if these dates will be a part of a larger tour.
January 20 Fort Lauderdale, FL—Revolution
January 21 Tampa, FL—The Ritz
January 22 Lake Buena Vista, FL—House of Blues
January 23 Mobile, AL—Saenger Theatre
January 26 Charleston, SC—The Music Farm
January 27 Oxford, MS—The Lyric Theatre
January 29 Cincinnati, OH—Taft Theatre
January 30 Grand Rapids, MI—Orbit Room
February 2 Cleveland, OH—House of Blues
Acoustic Umphrey's for Christmas
Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger of Umphrey's McGee will be playing an all-acoustic benefit show on December 5. The show will be at Chicago's Park West and will benefit USTORM, a charity aimed at youth and young adults. Tickets are $20, but a limited number of $75 VIP tickets are available. The VIP tickets include a 4-hour open bar (score) and premium seats. You can find out more about the show and about USTORM here.
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals announce NYE show
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals announced their New Years Eve plans this week. They'll close out 2009 with a series of shows at Higher Ground's in Burlington, VT. They'll be playing at the venue on December 26, 27, 28, and 31. No word if they have any plans for the 29th or 30th.
Pretty Lights on New Years Eve
Electro-jam band Pretty Lights have announced that they'll be playing Chicago's Vic Theatre on New Years Eve this year. The show will consist of two sets, including their first ever entirely "down-tempo" set. There will also be a champagne toast at midnight.
All-request show with Steve Kimock Crazy Engine
Steve Kimock Crazy Engine will play an all-request show on December 18 at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Fans can send in requests at the band's website. Kimock last did an all-request show at The Fillmore in 2005.
Cliff Starbuck to leave ekoostik hookah
Bassist and founding member Cliff Starbuck has announced that he will be leaving the Ohio jam band ekoostik hookah after their New Years Eve show. He'll be performing with the band through the end of the year, but, after that, fans will be "enjoying a new bass player." The split appears very amicable, and Cliff has stated that he wants to pursue other opportunities, so we may hear more from him yet.
Thanks again for coming by to get your weekly dose of jam. If you're in the Cleveland area, I'll be at the Grace Potter and the Nocturnals/Brett Dennen show on November 25 at the House of Blues. I'd recommend that folks come check it out. Seems like good preparation for Thanksgiving to me. Anyways, hope everyone has a great Turkey Day, and until next week, Jam On!
